Going Lean in Order to Grow
This shop has a plan for dramatically expanding its contract machining business in high-value markets.
From Job Shop Chaos To Lean Order
Classic lean manufacturing principles are practically taken as gospel, but benefits can be elusive for manufacturers that produce a variety of parts in low volumes. This shop took a different approach to lean—one aided by software that helped identi...
The Responsiveness Robot
For this lean shop dedicated to low-inventory kanban relationships with customers, the most critical measure of efficiency revealed the value of robotic loading.
The Most Valuable Resource For Succeeding At Lean
What is the most valuable resource? The answer is probably obvious: the people. This shop started to succeed at lean manufacturing once every employee got involved.
Moving Forward In Order To Stay Put
This job shop’s commitment to lean allows its business to grow while it remains in the facility where it has to stay.
If You Want to Improve Something, Measure It
This shop involves all of its employees in the daily exercise of analyzing just where time is being spent.
Lean Manufacturing For The Job Shop
Lean practices are not just for predictable production. Here are the common-sense ways this low-volume job shop has implemented a leaner process.
Cells To The Max
Brad Hart, president of Roberts Tool Company, in Chatsworth, California, believes that automated cells are the key to survival for companies likes his that machine complex, high-precision parts for aerospace and defense. Cellular manufacturing makes...
Get Lean, Go Global
A successful manufacturing company must achieve world-class capability within its walls. At the same time, a company has to go after global business opportunities. Hanel Corporation (New Berlin, Wisconsin) is a case in point. It has implemented seve...
Lean From The Get-Go
This shop was lean from day one. Its visual management tools form its lean manufacturing foundation.
